Steven Brice Kelly
Obituary
Steven Brice Kelly was larger than life – both in stature and personality. After battling numerous, sometimes bizarre, health issues over the past several years, Steve passed away after having a heart attack on January 13, 2019.
Steve was born on May 3, 1956, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Predeceased by Grant Edward Kelly (step-father), Marcella Barbara Rawlins (mother) and Adrienne Stokes (sister). Steve is survived by his wife, Karen E. Kelly; sisters Karen D. Kelly and Connie K. (Tony) Washington; children Jessica Kelly, Sarah Kelly, Marisa Kelly, and Remington Kelly; and six grandchildren. Steve was also looking forward to the birth of his first great-grandchild this spring.
He attended Judge Memorial High School on scholarship, which is where his football career began. Playing football and the life-long friendships that came along with it were the highlights of his youth. As a senior, he was voted football captain and, to his surprise, prom king. He then went on to help lead the Weber State University football team to several winning seasons, after which he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Police Science in 1979.
Steve’s working career began as a counselor for Utah State Youth Development Center where he supervised youth offenders. He then went on to supervise a misdemeanant, DUI, and high-risk offender caseloads at Utah State Adult Probation & Parole. Steve then went on a brief hiatus from law enforcement to work as a roughneck on a drilling rig in Casper, Wyoming. He then worked as a counselor at Utah State Division of Corrections. Next followed his extended career as a Senior Probation Officer with Probation and Pretrial Service Office of the United States Courts where he retired after 33 years of service. Most notably, he supervised the Witness Security Protection Program, initiated and developed the Electronic Monitoring Program, and designed the Intermediate Sanctions Procedure. Steve’s caseload knew him to be a kind, caring probation officer.
Steve served on the National Presentence Report Format Task Force in Washington, D.C. His community service work included being a board member of the NAACP; a board member for the Central City Community Center Advisory Board; a council member for the Utah State Anti-Discrimination and Fair Housing Advisory Council; a council member for the Utah State Department of Workforce Services Advisory Council; and commission member for the Utah State Sentencing Commission.
He loved the outdoors and would play golf (which was more an excuse to smoke a fine cigar), would go ice fishing, fly fishing the Provo River on a nearly-daily basis for a time, bowling, and hunting. This past summer was spent sharing Karen’s interest in beekeeping by spending hours researching on the internet. Steve was a self-taught guitarist and enjoyed telling jokes (if he could make it through the punchline without passing out).
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 25, 2019, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking on the north side of the building. Please use this time to mingle with family and friends. A wake will be held Saturday, January 26, 2019, starting promptly at 10:00 a.m. at The Garden Place at This Is The Place Heritage Park, 2601 East Sunnyside Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah. Please share your photos and memories with the family at www.starksfuneral.com.
Steve not only had the ability but truly loved to interact with people from different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, and religious affiliations. Steve believed a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, white socks and Keens were proper attire for any occasion. Please feel free to follow his lead while attending either service.
Many thanks to Steve’s extensive medical team, including Dr. Josephine Abraham and the entire staff at Kolff Dialysis Center; Dr. David Cope; Dr. Jennifer Ross and the entire Wound Clinic staff; Keisa Lynch; and many of the doctors and staff at the University of Utah Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, Steve would want you to spend some time creating memories with your family and friends and to go buy a couple of flashlights.